Courage only occurs when an action is consciously executed, involves a sacrifice, and is selfless. In The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane, the protagonist Henry Fleming does not fight the final battle courageously. Henry fails to act out of conscious decision, show willingness to put himself at risk, and put his friend’s satisfaction over his own. Henry’s courage is only temporary, and is therefore not true courage.
Henry Fleming’s actions do not display courage due to lack of conscious choice. Courageous acts involve thorough consideration, but Henry initially enters the battle “unconsciously in advance” (158). His actions are not thought out in advance, and are therefore not courageous. Another instance in which Henry displays his cowardice occurs after the death of the color bearer. After wrestling the flag from the hands of the dead color bearer, “he unconsciously assume[s] the attitude of the color bearer in the fight of the preceding day” (170). A true courageous soldier would assume the duty of the color bearer in order to lead his comrades, but Henry has no intentions when he picks up the flag, he is not internally strong enough to put himself at such a risk. While conscious decisions partially define courage, a courageous act also requires a sacrifice. Henry courageously …show more content…
Selflessness occurs when one is concerned more with the wishes of others than with one's own. Henry selfishly has a “small scuffle over the flag” with “his friend,” and although “each [feels] satisfied with the other’s possession of it,” Henry “[feels] bound to declare, by an offer to carry the emblem, his willingness to further risk himself” (166). Both Henry and his friend feel bound to put aside their weapons, and lead their regiment holding the flag that shows their “willingness to further risk [themselves.]” Henry puts his satisfaction over the satisfaction of his friend for his own